Building Details - Architects of South Australia

Replaced the Halfway House Hotel built in 1865. Source: 'Architect's sketch of completed Highway Inn' and 'Latest luxury hotel', Advertiser 13 November 1955.

The new Highway Inn was described as a ‘star turn in the company’s program of modern hotel development’, and ‘experimental’. Opened in 1955, it had the first drive-in bottle shop in Australia and ‘possibly in the world’. Hailed as a huge success, this innovation was subsequently copied throughout the country. Furthermore, the hotel moved beyond the familiar front bar service and added elegant lounge and dining facilities. Source: Cudmore, M. (1988) History of the South Australian Brewing Company, 1888-1988, South Australian Brewing Company, Thebarton. 1988: 107).

In an oral history, Brian Smith who worked for L.G. Abbott and was the son of architect Chris A. Smith, recounted, 'Gilbert was the one which I had most contact with because he [designed] the Highway Inn and it used to be fascinating because we’d go through the place – we were doing bathroom work as well as glass work – but he would get up there and he’d swing on the rails in the toilet areas. They were attached to the building, and I’d say, ‘What are you doing that for?’ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘that’s what the patron will do when he comes in’. Source: Brian Smith (2009), interviewed by Alison McDougall, OH 920, State Library of South Australia.

It is currently known as The Highway.